Gagne scores in return as Flyers top Caps

Philadelphia Flyers' Simone Gagne skates in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, in Philadelphia. Gagne was reacquired Tuesday from the Los Angeles Kings. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers would insist that adding Simon Gagne to their midst gave them an extra shot of energy Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Center. Not that there’s anything wrong with that dramatic assessment, but it was evident that a distinct lack of energy from the Washington Capitals laid the groundwork for a 4-1 Flyers victory.

Gagne, who arrived at 6 a.m. Wednesday after flying all night from Los Angeles, then spent the day trying unsuccessfully to catch up on a little sleep, did find some reserve in his tank. He didn’t seem to be a step behind anyone while skating his third line wing, and was gifted with a power play goal in the second period, with plenty of help from Brayden Schenn and Danny Briere.

“Flying last night from L.A., I tried to sleep. But at the same time I was excited, so it was hard to fall asleep,” Gagne said. “Coming here and getting a big win and scoring the tap-in goal, that was a good scenario for sure.”

All along, it was the Capitals who seemed to be in need of some shuteye.

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Seemingly dead on their skates from the drop of the first puck, the Caps looked on as Scott Hartnell immediately made his presence felt. First Hartnell bulled his way into the Washington zone, wrenched the puck away, went to his knees and backpassed toward the slot. The puck bounded off Karl Alzner’s stick and went to Claude Giroux, who calmly put it into an unguarded net 23 seconds into the game.

While it was Gagne’s reunion night, it was clear from that start that Hartnell’s game is coming back, too.

“It’s easy when you play with a couple of the best players in the world,” said Hartnell, playing his third game after returning from a month-long absence with a foot fracture. “Jake (Voracek)’s playing so good and (Giroux), the player he is, it’s just give the puck to him and try to get open. But I thought tonight we were more in synch. The first couple of games I was a little rusty. I didn’t want to affect them too much. But I felt a lot better tonight.”

Hartnell got right back to work on a power play, taking a turnaround shot that Caps goalie Braden Holtby casually batted right back into the slot. Wayne Simmonds was right there to backhand the rebound home 4:04 into the game for a 2-zip lead.

Even that embarrassing start — from a Flyers team (10-11-1) that doesn’t exactly specialize in early wakeup calls — couldn’t stir the Caps. After all, they had played the night before, and in this short season, apparently it’s forbidden for NHL teams to not be exhausted on the second day of back-to-back games.

Gagne, acquired Tuesday for a conditional draft pick from Los Angeles, then had his moment in the spotlight. He was just a bystander in the right spot when Briere dug the puck out from behind the net and got it to Schenn, who promptly snuck a behind-the-back pass to Gagne, who shoveled it off Holtby’s stick and in 3:54 into the second period for 3-0.

For Gagne, it wasn’t only his first goal of the season, it was his first goal in more than a year. He last scored for the Kings Nov. 17, 2011, and went on to miss the last 42 games of the season with a concussion.

“I’ve been in the league for 13 years and I still have some good hockey left in me,” Gagne said. “At the same time, the end is coming. But I’ve got experience ... winning the Cup in L.A., and in 2010 going to the Finals (with Tampa). ... Even though I didn’t play a lot in L.A., every time I was in the lineup I was feeling good. And tonight I felt good, too. Every game I play here I feel I’m going to be better. I’m excited to be back.”

Max Talbot was excited to be back in the scoring column, joining linemate Gagne by getting his first goal of the season at 14:55 of the second. Maybe it hasn’t been more than a year since Talbot scored, but it certainly seemed like it. He ended a long cold spell with a rocket of a slapshot for 4-0, sending Holtby to the showers.

That was just about it for the Caps (7-11-1), too. At least they made sure they didn’t get shut out, as Joel Ward knocked home a loose rebound in the waning minutes.

Two other things late in the game weren’t so cheery. First, young defenseman Erik Gustafsson got hurt again - he took a shot off his shin and was diagnosed with a lower body injury, but don’t be surprised if the injury is actually higher up on the league. Either way, Gustafsson indicated he didn’t think it was serious.

And then with 25 seconds left, there was an ill-advised check by Phantoms grad Harry Zolnierczyk, kneeing Washington’s Mathieu Perreault. Harry was immediately in trouble, tossed from the game and will face a disciplinary hearing for it.

Aside from that, this was a memorable night for an old — but not that old — Flyers hero.

“He gave us a big lift,” Talbot said of Gagne. “He’s a guy that’s well-known here, well-loved. He’s got a lot of energy and passion for the game, and he was making plays out there. He definitely gave us good momentum.”